BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
16 September 2318
CBO Association Championship Series Previews
We are now down to four teams, and we must say that the two expansion teams are the biggest surprises, even though one is a #2 seed. Cambridge and Southie both took care of business versus tough opponents to get to their first Championship Series in team history. It could be an interesting Sole Survivor Series should both make it.
Their opponents, Lexington in the NCA and Diamond City in the SCA, are teams use to winnings. The Synths are seeking their second Sole Survivor Series appearance, with their first coming in 2315. The Swatters have been there twice (2299 and 2300) and won them both.
NCA: #5 Cambridge Coursers (68-62) vs #3 Lexington Synths (75-55)
Season Series: Lexington 5, Cambridge 5
Overview: Lexington has to be pleased to not only battle through Concord and The Slog, but they also missed both Fort Hagen and Starlight in the playoffs. They get a hot Coursers team that also played well against them in the regular season.
Looking at the lineups in Game 1, it appears that Cambridge has the more-talented team. Like always, we are expecting the Lexington to blow up at any point, but now we can see that OSA scouts give less credence to the Synths lineup than we do. Cambridge's LF Bubbler Mayhem (.332/26/89) is the highest-rated player from either side, and he had the numbers to support that high rating, including earning the Series MVP against the Killers.
The Synths' pitching gets the top nod here, leading the NCA and CBO in runs allowed (494), NCA in Starters ERA (3.62), and NCA and CBO in Bullpen ERA (3.10). Ace Arron Noluh (10-12, 3.73) had the worst ERA of the three playoff starters. Cambridge was 3rd in runs allowed (587), 6th in Starers ERA (4.37), and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (4.13), but, though good, far behind the Synths.
Prediction: The pitching is where we think this series is determined. While the season series was knotted, 5-5, we think the Synths take an early advantage and always hold the Coursers at length. Lexington 4, Cambridge 2
SCA: #2 Southie Brews (70-60) vs #1 Diamond City Swatters (74-56)
Season Series: Diamond City 3, Southie 1
Overview: Every game in the regular season was close. The teams split in Diamond City with the Brews winning 3-2 and then the Swatters winning 2-0. In Southie, Diamond City took both, 7-5 and 5-3. Beachboy Nut dominated his two starts, allowing three earned run in 17.0 innings to go 2-0. His first start at home resulted in a complete-game, one-hit shutout.
Diamond City has thrived on its pitching prowess, and that also showed itself by holding Jamaica Plain to four runs over three games. All three starters pitched well, with Nut giving up the most runs, 2.
Southie is a team that depends on its offense to get it ahead in high-scoring affairs. In the series against the Dwellers, wins resulted in 11, 9, and 8 runs. On the two occasions where offense was not successful, Games 3 and 4, scoring just one total run in two games, Southie was blown out.
Prediction: While the Brews' story is an interesting one, and many are pulling for them as an underdog on the season, a team that came out of nowehere, we think that dream dies here. The Swatters are loaded in a way that PAM was not able to see, but is obvious in just how well they pitch throughout the staff. We think this one ends early. Diamond City 4, Southie 1
